Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, true first edition, first issue [one of only 500], London: Bloomsbury, 1997. Of the 500 copies printed, 300 were issued to schools & libraries – this is a superb example of one of the even scarcer and more desirable 200 that were issued to booksellers. Octavo, hardback, publisher’s original laminated pictorial boards. Complete with all requisite issue points, namely: full number line on copyright page, “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1”; “1 wand” appearing twice on p.53; “Philosopher’s” misspelled “Philospher’s” on rear cover; “Wizardry and Witchcraft” [rather than “Witchcraft and Wizardry”] on rear cover; “Joanne Rowling” on copyright page; no space between “Taylor” and “1997” on copyright page. Internally very well-preserved, clean & bright; usual light toning to page edges; appears almost unread: no folded corners, no inscriptions, no foxing; a few very faint marginal marks in places, including lower gutters of title; original endpapers are good & bright with a star-shaped surface mark at corner of front pastedown; very slightly pulling at gutters of final page; binding very good, strong & unrestored with original laminated finish; slight fading/discolouration to spine; a few very faint scratches to laminate; light wear to extreme corners of boards & spine; very lightly bumped at edges of spine; a couple of very small, light bumps to edges of boards; very slight shelf-lean. Overall, very good indeed – a remarkably well-preserved example of the true first issue of the author’s debut novel and first in the Harry Potter series. This is the origin of the best-selling book series in history.

Sold: £42,000